U.S. Gov't Planning To "Help Us" Secure Computers

BahdKo writes: "CNN reported today in this article that the U.S. government is working out a plan to help protect Cyberspace from attacks by "hackers and terrorists." This plan will include the distribution of government-provided software to help clean up insecure Windows installations. It's hard to picture myself executing government provided software on my workstation (we were supposed to be *increasing* the security of the PC's, right?)"

Comments

go go gadget gov't

[kin_korn_karn]

It's almost like the US gov't has a list of things techies hate, and they're going down the list and doing each thing, just to piss us all off.

Re: go go gadget gov't

[Black Parrot]

> It's almost like the US gov't has a list of things techies hate, and they're going down the list and doing each thing, just to piss us all off.

If your hypothesis is correct, we can expect to see the gov't eating vegetables pretty soon.

Re:go go gadget gov't

[rant-mode-on]

• It's almost like the US gov't has a list of things techies hate, and they're going down the list and doing each thing, just to piss us all off.

Looks like we're stuck with Microsoft then.

Re:go go gadget gov't

[Anonymous Coward]

Yep, next they're gonna have a shower and parade their girlfriends on TV. FUCK YOU nerdlings! Us Govt in da house.

What about the Lock Box?

[tmasssey]

Maybe they could put the Internet in the same lock box they put Social Security in? Doesn't get any safer than that!

1984

[wub]

Isn't it ironic that a few days ago /. posted an article about how 1984 DIDN'T happen. Now the U.S. Govt is trying to make it happen? ;)

Re:Let's just say

[WolfWithoutAClause]

Good. So you're not worried about that line 3029 that says:

if (slashdotId == "Wolfier")
{
openBackdoor();
sendHisDodgyWebAccessesURLsToUncleSam();
triggerIRSAudit();
}

Re:Not Likely...

[quantaman]

I'd want to read every single line of any code given to me to run by the gov't

Actually I'd be content to just let you read it and wait for anything suspicious to pop up on /. :)

MiB?

[bpfinn]

Hmm... So along with protecting us from aliens, maybe the "Men in Black" will also run Windows Update for us too? ("Was that a security update?", "Nope, just a weather baloon." *flash*)

Assume the worst

[aoeu]

Suppose that most computers are insecure. The (MS)OS gives up the HD to anyone who asks,users won't apply patches, the admin is an idiot, whatever.

The Feds are already wherever they want to be and I think that they would rather be the only ones there. I still want to keep out the rest of the world and the Feds want to help. How could this be any worse than what we have.

The really paranoid (or sensible) people will use strong encryption which is more to the point.

All your database are belong to U.S.

America's Army

[CoreyG]

They're releasing this software to check how well their backdoors inside America's Army worked. Duh!

Re:Let's just say

[quantum bit]

Is triggerIRSAudit available as a Perl module?

I'm Doing MY Part

[Compulawyer]

From the article:

"Every American relies upon cyberspace and every American has to do something to secure their part of cyberspace," Clarke said of the plan, which will be released September 19 in Silicon Valley. . . Clarke spoke to reporters as well as government and corporate officials to announce government-wide standards for securing Microsoft's Windows 2000, the most commonly used operating system for government and corporate computers.

I'm doing my part. I'm using a Macintosh.